With a cordless phone, you get the same features as a standard telephone, both offering many models and features to choose from. What sets cordless phones apart is their mobility. There are two types of cordless phones - analog and digital. They each differ in how they convert your voice into code and at what radio frequency your voice is sent. Let's compare the two formats and decide which has the best features and security.



Analog technology has been around for decades. With an analog phone, your voice is converted into electronic pulses and transmitted on your phone's designated frequency between the handset and base. An analog phone is usually the most affordable and available option.

Though they have adequate range and good voice quality, analog signals can be more noisy and prone to interference from other wireless services with respect to sound quality. Another couple of big drawbacks are poor security and the possibility of static and interference when you move too far away from the base unit.

A digital cordless telephone provides a stronger, clearer signal with enhanced security. They are less prone to static and interference. Most digital phones have the ability to switch to alternate channels when interference is detected, thus providing heightened clarity over analog models.

In addition, digital phones demonstrate enhanced range over comparable analog models. Digital cell phones are harder to eavesdrop on. A digital stream is more difficult to interpret because it's not a radio wave, but rather a series of ones and zeros. The hardware necessary to convert digital streams is not as readily available as are FM scanners.

A clear choice between an analog and a digital cordless phone can be made when you look at the facts at hand. Digital has no electromagnetic distortion, which makes for a powerful and versatile technology. Analog uses electromagnetic currents and is susceptible to inaccuracy and distortion from other wireless services. For this reason, analog's popularity has nose-dived.

A digital cordless telephone sends voice data in binary form. At the receiving end, the information is reassembled. This technology allows for much greater security when using.

When choosing a cordless phone at your local consumer electronics store, take into consideration the pros and cons of both analog and digital to make an informed choice. Analog is an affordable, basic option with good voice quality. With digital, you are less likely to be plagued with interference and static.

Digital also provides a longer handset to base range and heightened security over the older analog technology. Both technologies are good, but digital is better.